Vehicle-axle.



, @MZ/QM R. G. MARTIN.

, lVEHICLE AXLB.

`APPLIMJJTION FILED JUNI: a, 1907.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' n. e. MARTIN.

` VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNES, 1907.

` Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

- 2 SHEETS-ausm a.

jf /M/Q and lower members of -the associated part and thereby to the vehicle ROSQOE C. MARTIN, OF CHAPMAN, NEBRASKA.

vnmcmaxm.

Na.e11,14'2.

To all whom it may 2o/neem.'

Beit known that I, Roscon' C. MARTIN, a citizen4 cf lthe United States, residing Chapman, county of Merrick, and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle iAxles, of which the following. is a description.

My invention relates to that portion ofthe vehicle known asthe axle and 1n the present` case is provided with meansfor adjustm the position ofthe wheels to guide the ve'hic e.

The ob'ect of my invention is to provide a device ,o the kind described of increasedstrength and durability and one whereby the lower, or' bearing, oints ofthe Wheels. are adjusted transverse y of the vehicle. to increase its stability While travelingon a curved course.

To this end my invention consists in the bination, of parts herein shown andfdef scribed and more particularly pointed-outin the claim.

-In the accompanying drawings wherein `like or similar reference'characters' indicate like or corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a fron-t elevation of my improvement with the parts positioned to travel in a strai htl course'. Fig. 2 is a front elevation siml ar to that shown in Fig. 1 but with the parts positioned to travel in a curved'course. Fig. 3 is a lan view of the device as shown in Fig. 1 Wit parts of the wheels .broken` away. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of my device and arts of an automobile.. Fig. 5 is a section ta ren substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on line 6 6 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a detail showing a part ofone of the movable end portions of my device.

In the preferred form shown in the drawings, my device consists of three'principal parts, comprising a main, or central, stationary part adapted -to be rigidly attached to the vehicle body, and two movable parts each attached to the end of the stationary part and having a projecting bearing adapted to snugly t the central bore of a wheel to rotatably attach the same to the tationary ouy.

The stationary part may be of any suitable form or construction adapted for use `with the particular form of vehicle for which it is intended. In the form shown this part com` prises a bar 1 forked at each end, the up er the forked portion especicaton ot Letters Patent. 'Application June 3, 1907. Serial No. 876,919.

e and an eye 3 near its extremity.

'Inthe form .mediate its Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

substantially duplicates and each prod with a transverse curved portion 2,

he upper and lower lportions of the forked parts are substantial y parallel thus forming a guideway between pair of suitable bearings at each extremity o'f the stationary part for attaching the movable portionof the axle. As shown also, a bar 4 1s provided substantially parallel to the bar 1- the two being rigidly connected near their common center, and also at each extremity. The bar 4 is adapted for direct attachment to the vehicle body and serves as an intermediate member between the vehicle bodyand the bar 1.

The movable parts may be of any desired form or construction to coperate with thev i c stationary part of the axle, each serving as a novel constructlon, arrangement, and conia longitudin extension at the extremity of the axle for attaching the wheels 5--5 thereto. shown each movable part consists of an arm 6 provided ata point interends with a socket 7 adapted to receive a suitable bolt or p in 8, or other suitable means for providing a pair of transverse projections adapted to co crate with the eyes 3 3 to form' a pivota connection between the stationary and movable arts of the axle. The portions at each en( of the bolt 8 projecting beyond the socket 7 are preferably reduced in diameter and fitted with suitable nuts or equivalent means for drawing the eyes 3-3 down upon the shoulders at the ends of the part withm'the socket 7 to rigidly clam the' bolt 8 in position and also to' rigid y connect the extremities of the forked vpart of the bar 1 leaving he arm 6 free to vturn upon the body of the bolt.

One end of the arm 6 is preferably formed in the usual or any desired manner to coperate withthe wheel 5 androtatably secure the same -in position. Its opposite extremity extends to the space between the curved parts 2 Where a ro ler 10 or other suitable means is provided for coperating with the proximate faces of the gui eway to form an additional bearing between the stationary part and each movable part to su port the pivotal connection and prevent un upon the bolt S. v

Any suit-able means may be provided `for inclining the wheels to correspondl with the angular relation between the movable and the stationary parts so that when the wheels arefpositioned to follow a curved course,

the curved portions 2 and aue strain they will be in the most advantageous osi- Fig. 2.

' upwardly and rearwardly.

upon which the wheel is mounte will be substantially level. When extending 'forward from its pivotal connectiom its outer end will be elfe4 rated to correspond with its angular position, and when extending rearwardly its outer or free end will be depressed. The wheel mounted upon said artobviously being correspondingly yincline as shown in In the form shown also,- each arm 6 is provided with a transverse projection 11 for controlling its position, the two parts 11 being preferably connected as shown by a bar 12 pivotally attached to each so'that the position of the two movable parts will, at all times, correspond, that is, if the free end ofone is4 move forward and upward, the free end ofthe arm 6 upon the opposite end of the axle willbe moved rearward and downward,

the parts being arranged to maintain the planes bot movable arts in substantially arallel Evertically and horizontally.

The usuall or any referred means may be provided for contro ling the movement of the bar 12 to adjust the position 'of the wheels. As shown, a rod 14 is pivotally attached at one end to the bar 12 as at 15 and at its opposite end is pivotally attached to an arm 16 upon a steering mechanism or other suitable means for the urpose whereby the o erator of the vehic e may readily control t e angular position of the movable parts and the wheels.

Thimbles, 2a extend between the members ivotal connection between @andere 2 at the outer ends thereof and aid in spacing said members apart. Rivets or other fastening devices 2b serve to retain these thim bles in position.

In thejaccompanying, drawings and in this pecification, only the preferred form 0f my evice is shown and described but it is 0bvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in my improvement to adapt the same to the various forms of vehicles, hence, I do not wish to be understood as hn'liting m self to the exact form and construction s own.

WhatI claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is,

In a device of' the character described, the combination with a transversely extending bar 4, of a centrally dis osed member supported from said bar, sai centrally-disposed member having its o posite ends bifurcated,

`ycurved, inclined gui c plates 2 in which said bifurcated ends terminate, said guide plates being s aced from each other to form guide ways, t imbles 2a closing the outer ends of said guide ways, arms projecting outwardly from said uide plates, inclined pivots passing throu the outer ends of said arms and through the bar 4, movable members mountedupon said pivots each of said members comprising an outwardly projectingvwheel receiving portion, a bearing sleeve, an inwardly projecting portion, and a rearwardly projectingportion, anti-friction rollers mounted upon the inner ends of said inwardlyprojecting portions, said rollers traveling between the guidel plates, and a transversely disposed member 12, connecting `the rearwardly projecting portions of the movable members.

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. ROSCOE C. MARTIN.

Witnesses.:

CARL O. WILLARD, R. HANAN. 

